Core Viewpoint - BioNTech confirms that its collaboration with Pfizer remains unchanged despite reports of Pfizer seeking to sell its stake in BioNTech [1] Group 1 - BioNTech's spokesperson stated that the company will continue to maintain a close and strong partnership with Pfizer [1] - The company will not comment on any capital market activities undertaken by Pfizer [1]

Core Viewpoint - BioNTech confirmed that its collaboration with Pfizer remains unchanged despite reports suggesting that Pfizer is considering selling its stake in the German biotech firm [1] Company Summary - BioNTech's collaboration with Pfizer is intact and has not been affected by recent speculation regarding Pfizer's potential divestment [1]

Core Viewpoint - Pfizer is seeking to sell its remaining stake in COVID-19 vaccine partner BioNTech through a block trade of approximately 4.55 million American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) priced between $108 and $111.70 per share, potentially generating around $508 million in revenue at the upper price range [1] Group 1 - Pfizer plans to sell about 4.55 million ADRs of BioNTech [1] - The pricing range for the sale is set between $108 and $111.70 per share [1] - If priced at the upper limit, the sale could yield approximately $508 million for Pfizer [1]

Market Overview - US stock index futures showed mixed performance ahead of the market opening, with Dow futures up 0.01%, S&P 500 futures down 0.15%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.20% [1] - European indices displayed varied results, with Germany's DAX down 0.65%, UK's FTSE 100 down 0.54%, France's CAC40 up 0.37%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 down 0.05% [2][3] Oil Prices - WTI crude oil increased by 0.79% to $58.95 per barrel, while Brent crude oil rose by 0.73% to $63.17 per barrel [3][4] Economic Events - The US federal government ended a 43-day shutdown after President Trump signed a temporary funding bill, allowing most government agencies to operate until January 30, 2026 [4] - New York Fed officials indicated that the Fed may soon initiate asset purchases to maintain liquidity, citing rising overnight financing costs as a sign of insufficient bank reserves [5] Corporate News - Disney reported better-than-expected Q4 profits, driven by strong performance in streaming and theme parks, and announced a 50% increase in dividends along with a doubling of its stock buyback plan [7] - Pfizer plans to sell its remaining stake in BioNTech, marking the end of a significant partnership that generated substantial revenue during the pandemic [8] - Cisco's Q1 results exceeded expectations, with an 8% year-over-year revenue increase to $14.9 billion, driven by growth in AI-related spending [9] - JD.com reported Q3 total revenue of 299.06 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.85%, while net profit decreased by 55.03% [10] - Bilibili turned a profit in Q3 with a net profit of 469 million yuan, showing significant growth in user engagement metrics [10] - Starbucks employees initiated an indefinite strike affecting at least 65 stores across 40 cities, potentially impacting holiday sales [12]

Core Insights - Arbutus Biopharma Corporation reported a strong financial position with cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $93.7 million as of September 30, 2025, down from $122.6 million at the end of 2024 [7][15] - The company is focused on the development of imdusiran (AB-729) for chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection, with promising clinical trial results indicating that 46% of Phase 2a patients were able to discontinue all treatment [2][13] - Ongoing litigation against Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech regarding the use of Arbutus's patented LNP technology is a significant aspect of the company's corporate strategy, with a jury trial scheduled for March 2026 [6][21] Financial Results - Total revenue for Q3 2025 was $0.5 million, a decrease from $1.3 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to reduced license royalty revenues [8][14] - Research and development expenses decreased to $5.8 million in Q3 2025 from $14.3 million in Q3 2024, reflecting cost-saving measures [9][14] - The net loss for Q3 2025 was $7.7 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $19.7 million, or $0.10 per share, in Q3 2024 [11][14] Clinical Development - Imdusiran has shown sustained benefits in chronic hepatitis B patients, with 94% of long-term follow-up patients remaining off all treatment for over two years [2][5] - In Phase 1b trials, 100% of HBV DNA positive patients achieved HBV DNA levels below quantification after 18 weeks of treatment with imdusiran and nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy [5][13] - The company is dedicated to accelerating the development and potential approval of imdusiran, which targets all hepatitis B viral proteins and antigens [18][21] Corporate Updates - The company is actively consulting with Genevant Sciences to protect its intellectual property amid ongoing lawsuits [6][21] - A favorable claim construction ruling was issued in the Pfizer-BioNTech litigation in September 2025, which the company views positively [6] - Arbutus showcased data from its hepatitis B virus programs at AASLD 2025, highlighting beneficial clinical outcomes across all evaluated HBV genotypes [6]

Market Overview - US stock index futures showed mixed performance ahead of the market opening, with Dow futures up 0.01%, S&P 500 futures down 0.15%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.20% [1] - European indices also displayed varied results, with Germany's DAX down 0.65%, UK's FTSE 100 down 0.54%, France's CAC40 up 0.37%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 down 0.05% [2][3] Oil Prices - WTI crude oil increased by 0.79% to $58.95 per barrel, while Brent crude oil rose by 0.73% to $63.17 per barrel [3][4] Economic and Policy Updates - The US federal government ended its longest shutdown of 43 days, with a temporary funding bill signed by President Trump, providing funding until January 30, 2026 [5] - New York Fed officials indicated that the Fed may soon initiate asset purchases to maintain liquidity, as overnight financing costs have risen, signaling a shortage of bank reserves [6] - Economic advisor Kevin Hassett expressed support for a 50 basis point rate cut if appointed as Fed Chair, highlighting concerns over retail hiring and consumer confidence [7] Company News - Disney reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings, with adjusted EPS of $1.11, although down 3% year-over-year, and announced a 50% increase in dividends and a doubling of its stock buyback plan [8] - Pfizer plans to sell its remaining stake in BioNTech, potentially generating approximately $508 million, marking the end of a significant partnership during the pandemic [9] - Cisco's Q1 results exceeded expectations, with an 8% revenue increase to $14.9 billion, driven by AI-related spending [10] - JD.com reported Q3 revenue of 299.06 billion yuan, a 14.85% year-over-year increase, but a 56.49% drop in pre-tax profit [11] - Bilibili turned a profit in Q3 with a net income of 469 million yuan, showing growth in user engagement metrics [11] - Microsoft launched an "AI super factory" in Atlanta, integrating thousands of NVIDIA GPUs to support AI workloads [12] - Starbucks employees initiated an indefinite strike affecting at least 65 stores across 40 cities, potentially impacting holiday sales [13]

Core Viewpoint - Pfizer is seeking to sell its remaining stake in COVID-19 vaccine partner BioNTech, marking the end of a highly profitable collaboration during the pandemic [1] Group 1: Pfizer's Actions - Pfizer plans to sell approximately 4.55 million American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) at a price range of $108 to $111.70 per share, potentially generating about $508 million if priced at the upper limit [1] - The company recently acquired obesity startup Metsera Inc. for $10 billion, aiming to replace declining COVID-19 business revenues with a new weight-loss drug [1] Group 2: BioNTech's Transition - BioNTech is returning to its original focus on cancer treatment research, utilizing accumulated funds to support its studies [1] - The company has entered into a collaboration agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb valued at up to $11.1 billion [1]

Core Viewpoint - Pfizer is seeking to sell its remaining stake in COVID-19 vaccine partner BioNTech, marking the end of a highly profitable collaboration during the pandemic [1] Group 1: Pfizer's Stake Sale - Pfizer plans to sell approximately 4.55 million American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) at a price range of $108 to $111.70 per share, potentially generating about $508 million if priced at the upper limit [1] - The collaboration between Pfizer and BioNTech began in 2020, resulting in billions of dollars in revenue from the COVID-19 vaccine and supply agreements with the U.S. and EU governments [1] Group 2: Ongoing Collaboration and Future Plans - Pfizer and BioNTech continue to collaborate on developing COVID-19 vaccine formulations based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology, sharing revenues from this ongoing partnership [1] - Pfizer recently acquired obesity startup Metsera Inc. for $10 billion, aiming to replace declining COVID-19 business revenues with a new weight-loss drug [1] Group 3: BioNTech's Shift in Focus - With the pandemic subsiding, BioNTech is returning to its original focus on cancer treatment research, utilizing accumulated funds to support this research [1] - BioNTech has also entered into a collaboration agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb valued at up to $11.1 billion [1]

Pfizer and BioNTech teamed up in 2020 to develop a Covid-19 vaccine that went on to generate billions of dollars worldwide https://t.co/dyjn11yFxo ...

Core Viewpoint - The appointment of Richard Pazdur as the new director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has boosted investor confidence in the pharmaceutical sector, leading to record-high stock prices for major pharmaceutical companies [1][2]. Group 1: Appointment Details - Richard Pazdur, with 26 years of experience at the FDA, has been appointed as the new director, succeeding George Tidmarsh, who resigned following an investigation [1]. - Pazdur will continue to serve as the director of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence until a successor is determined [1]. Group 2: Market Reaction - The VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF, covering 25 global pharmaceutical companies, has seen a three-day rise, reaching an all-time high, with notable gains from companies like Novo Nordisk, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Gilead [1]. - The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF also recorded a three-day increase, hitting its highest level since January 2022, with strong performances from Regeneron and BioNTech [1]. Group 3: Analyst Sentiment - Analysts generally view Pazdur's appointment positively, with Raymond James analyst Chris Mkins stating he could be the best choice for patients and the industry [2]. - The appointment may signal a significant shift in regulatory strategy from FDA leadership, according to industry experts [2]. - Medical media outlet Stat News welcomed the appointment, highlighting it as a positive development for the FDA during a turbulent period [2].